Volkswagen Are Now Scrapping Their WRC Programme Too

Just a week since announcing the news that Audi will be leaving the World Endurance Championship at the end of the year, Volkswagen have announced another bombshell, this time in the World Rally Championship.

Volkswagen have dominated the WRC for the last four years but now they will be leaving the sport at the end of this season. It follows the hugely publicised Dieselgate emissions scandal that has clearly hit VW’s motorsport involvement hard.

It’s a particularly shocking that VW are making such a quick departure from the series having already been testing and developing their 2017-spec Polo R WRC.

But perhaps the biggest news of all is the fact that it potentially leaves Sebastien Ogier without a drive next season, having just wrapped up his fourth world title and becoming one of only four drivers in rally history to win four championships.

Current drivers Jari-Matti Latvala and Andreas Mikkelsen also look set to go into the winter-break without a WRC future.